Improvement in sofa-bedsteads



' "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. HOPPER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SOFA-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,530, dated March 7,1876; application filed August 19, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. HOPPER, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Folding Bed- Lounges; and I do hereby declare thefollow- -ingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,.which form part of4 this specification, in which- Figure l is aperspective view; Fig. 2, a plan view; and Figs. 3 and 4 sections ot'details.

My inventionvhas relation to folding bedlounges; and consists in theconstruction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described andclaimed.

A is the base ot' the lounge proper, standing on the usual four legs.The back B is permanently fixed to thejbase. Running across at each endof the base A are strips a, c', high enough to be flush with themattress when laid. To the outer ends ot' these strips are hingedsimilar strips b b', joined together by the strips c c', making a frameof equal size with base A of the lounge, so that, when turned over 011the latter, the two will exactly correspond, strips b b resting onstrips a c for the purpose ot stability. A highlyfinished and ornamentalcabinet front, U, and foot D, together with the head-rest E, slide inand ont by means ot' tongue and groove, or any sliding' or rollingdevice, and they are furnished with a leg at each ot' the two outercorners, to guide and support them in the same plane as the base A. Thefront G has lugs or projecting shoulders fon its inner tace, to receiveand support the folding section a c b b. The head-rest E is attached to,and moves with, the sliding front and foot by means of the runner dsliding in a groove in strip b of the base. j

The Various parte of the head-piece are duplicated, and hinged along theinner meetingedge, thus folding over inwardly when the front is pulledout to position.

Running across the outer face of each sec tion of the head-rest is anoutwardly-bowed strip, e, which leaves a hollow inside, and allowsupholstering to form a permanent pillow in each section, thus avoidingthe necessity gf separate pillows or bolster to nish the As the foldingsection of the bed has sufficient support on the lugs fon the front O nocenter-board is necessary, and this alone is a fact worthy of attention,as no 011e likes to lie on the edge of a board, and get up with sorebones. Hence the soft center77 obtained is an advantage of thisconstruction.

A folding vmattress may be placed in the space between frame-work b b cc and the base A. This permits thorough cleaning at any time, and allowsno chance for bugs to congregate. Or, it' desired, the mattress may bemade permanent with the foldin g portions.

To change the lounge into a bed, pullout the front A, (the head-pieceand foot come with it.) turn over outwardly the frame b b c c' till itrests on the lugs f then-turn over inwardly the upper section ofy thehead-piece E till it rests on like lugs 011 the back, or isotherwisestayed ,at the proper point. Then unfold the mattress, lay thedressing, and the lounge isl transformed into an elegant bed, withcarved or ornamented wood back, front,

and foot, having siX casters and feet, and can be easily moved anywhereby a child.

Thus, by my construction, I have'a comfortable and highly-tinishedlounge, which, at an instants notice, can be transformed into an elegantbed, complete in every detail, and preserving the ornamental cabinetfront, head, and foot of the lounge, with its back to set oi' the bed,while at the same time all is snug and solid and the parts being simpleand strong, and no strain coming upon the hinges, are not easilysusceptible ot' breaking or displacement.

Having fully described my invention, what. I claim as new is as follows:

l. In combination with the hinged headrest E, the outwardly-bowed stripse e, constructed and adapted to give a permanent pillow within, as setforth.

2. In a sofa-lounge, constructed substantially as described, thecombination, with the` lounge-body having a rolling or sliding front, ofthe hinged head-rest E, provided with the outwardly-bowed strips, asshown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the i'oregoingI have hereunto set my hand this9th day of August, 1875.

FRANK A. HOPPER. Witnesses:

Trios. J. McTIeHE, A. GoRccRAN.

